Legal street racing returns at Roadkill Nights 2025 with a muscle car playground: See photos

USA Today

11-08-2025

Since 2015, cops have been turning a blind eye toward what happens at Roadkill Nights in Michigan.
"It's a street legal takeover," Dodge CEO Matt McAlear said. "It's controlled mayhem at its finest."
Amnesty from the police is a good thing for the tens of thousands in attendance along Woodward Avenue in Pontiac, who routinely flock to the event to see some of the biggest and baddest drag racing machines. The event, which started in the parking lot of the Silverdome back in 2015, features 11 hours of high-octane drag racing matches between drivers from across the country.
Last year, due to construction, the event moved inside the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, with drag races taking place on the straightaway. This year, the event on Saturday, Aug. 9, returned downtown with permits, of course, from MDOT, Pontiac police and even approval from the mayor:
"Nothing symbolizes and represents the car culture of southeast Michigan better than driving on Woodward Avenue," said Tim Greimel, the mayor of Pontiac.
All day muscle
Before the racing began, there was a mandatory safety meeting for all racers. They were told the route to take to enter the drag strip, where to burnout to warm up their tires and other key information about general safety when racing.
Once the vehicles came to the track to get the show started, there was a long line of cars ranging from modern muscle, classic hot rods, modified super trucks and even a few electric vehicles. The loud noises of the engines and the scent of burnt rubber attracted the fans engaging in other activities toward the grandstands.
As Tom Bernardi Sr., 63, and his son, Tom Bernardi Jr., 28, waited for the races to start, they fit right into the Dodge-powered muscle culture of the event.
Both of them drive Dodge vehicles — a 2021 Dodge Charger and a 1970 Coronet for Bernardi Sr. and a '15 Challenger SRT for Bernardi Jr. On top of driving a Dodge every day, Bernardi Jr. is the fourth generation of Chrysler (now Stellantis, Dodge's parent company) employees in the Bernardi family.
"My dad worked at Chrysler, my granddad worked at Chrysler, it's going down the chain," Bernardi Sr. said, gesturing toward his son.
The two of them weren't there to just celebrate their employer, though. Bernardi Jr. said automotive events are just chances to get out in the sun and bond with his dad.
"This is for the memories," Bernardi Jr. said. "So, you know, later on in life you don't have any regrets."
His dad backed him up:
"We went to the first one of these, and now, 10 years later, we're still coming to it."
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'It's my first time!'
Demi Bagby, a 24-year-old influencer with millions of followers across social media, has been tinkering with cars and getting into drag racing over the last four or so years, she said.
At the 2025 Roadkill Nights, Bagby said with nervous excitement that she would be making her drag racing debut.
"I've never drag raced before, it's my first time," Bagby said, laughing. "I'm not qualified to be here!"
Bagby is one of six influencers recruited by Dodge to compete in the "Grudge Match," a race between drivers whose drag racing builds are sponsored by the company.
Bagby built a souped-up, all-black 1987 Buick Grand National (Dodge allowed the drivers to build on other brands' vehicles) to compete in the Grudge Match. Before she raced, she told the Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, that she hopes she wins her matches.
If she doesn't?
"However today goes, it goes," Bagby said. "Everyone is just here to have a good, safe time, and I'm excited to be here and be a part of it."
New Durango, Charger news
At a media preview a day before the main event on Friday, Aug. 8, Dodge previewed two of its latest product announcements: The long-awaited six-pack powered, internal combustion Charger and a jailbroken Dodge Hellcat Durango.
McAlear shared some new information about the Durango. All levels of the Durango, from the entry-level GT to the 710-horsepower Hellcat, will come standard with a HEMI V8 engine. Previously, GT Durangos were equipped with a 6-cylinder engine.
Also on Friday, Dodge offered drift rides in the new Sixpack Chargers and gave members of the news media a chance to take a pass at drag racing down Woodward themselves (rest assured, the Free Press performed quite well).
Liam Rappleye covers Stellantis and the UAW for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him: [e-mail].
Keenan Thompson covers car culture for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him: [e-mail].